Digital Commons Network^™

Integrated Analysis Of Dysregulated Ncrna And Mrna Expression Profiles In Humans Exposed To Carbon Nanotubes, Anna A. Shvedova, Naveena Yanamala, Elena R. Kisin, Timur O. Khailullin, M. Eileen Birch, Liliya M. Fatkhutdinova

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background As the application of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in consumer products continues to rise, studies have expanded to determine the associated risks of exposure on human and environmental health. In particular, several lines of evidence indicate that exposure to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) could pose a carcinogenic risk similar to asbestos fibers. However, to date the potential markers of MWCNT exposure are not yet explored in humans.

Methods In the present study, global mRNA and ncRNA expression profiles in the blood of exposed workers, having direct contact with MWCNT aerosol for at least 6 months (n = 8), were compared …

An Evaluability Assessment Of The West Virginia Physical Activity Plan, 2015: Lessons Learned For Other State Physical Activity Plans, Christiaan G. Abildso, Samantha Shawley, Sherry Owens, Angela Dyer, Sean M. Bulger, Dina L. Jones, Emily M. Jones, Emily Murphy, Melissa D. Olfert, Eloise Elliott

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

The US National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) was released in 2009 as a national strategic plan to increase physical activity (PA). The NPAP emphasized implementing state and local PA pro- grams. Dissemination of information about NPAP has been lim- ited, however.

Community Context

West Virginia is a predominantly rural state with high rates of chronic diseases associated with physical inactivity. In 2015 an evaluability assessment (EA) of the West Virginia Physical Activ- ity Plan (WVPAP) was conducted, and community stakeholders were invited to participate in updating the plan.

Methods

A good EA seeks stakeholder input, assists in identifying program …

The Musashi 1 Controls The Splicing Of Photoreceptor-Specific Exons In The Vertebrate Retina, Daniel Murphy, Benjamin Cieply, Russ Carstens, Visvanathan Ramamurthy, Peter Stoilov

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Alternative pre-mRNA splicing expands the coding capacity of eukaryotic genomes, potentially enabling a limited number of genes to govern the development of complex anatomical structures. Alternative splicing is particularly prevalent in the vertebrate nervous system, where it is required for neuronal development and function. Here, we show that photoreceptor cells, a type of sensory neuron, express a characteristic splicing program that affects a broad set of transcripts and is initiated prior to the development of the light sensing outer segments. Surprisingly, photoreceptors lack prototypical neuronal splicing factors and their splicing profile is driven to a significant degree by the Musashi …

Clme: An R Package For Linear Mixed Effects Models Under Inequality Constraints, Casey M. Jelsema, Shyamal D. Peddada

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

In many applications researchers are typically interested in testing for inequality constraints in the context of linear fixed effects and mixed effects models. Although there exists a large body of literature for performing statistical inference under inequality constraints, user friendly statistical software implementing such methods is lacking, especially in the context of linear fixed and mixed effects models. In this article we introduce CLME, a package in the R language that can be used for testing a broad collection of inequality constraints. It uses residual bootstrap based methodology which is reasonably robust to non-normality as well as heteroscedasticity. The package …

Transcriptome And Metabolome Analyses Of Glucosinolates In Two Broccoli Cultivars Following Jasmonate Treatment For The Induction Of Glucosinolate Defense To Trichoplusia Ni (Hübner), Kang-Mo Ku, Talon M. Becker, John A. Juvik

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Lepidopteran larvae growth is influenced by host plant glucosinolate (GS) concentrations, which are, in turn, influenced by the phytohormone jasmonate (JA). In order to elucidate insect resistance biomarkers to lepidopteran pests, transcriptome and metabolome analyses following JA treatments were conducted with two broccoli cultivars, Green Magic and VI-158, which have differentially induced indole GSs, neoglucobrassicin and glucobrassicin, respectively. To test these two inducible GSs on growth of cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), eight neonate cabbage looper larvae were placed onto each of three plants per JA treatments (0, 100, 200, 400 M) three days after treatment. After five days of feeding, …

Evaluation Of Pulmonary And Systemic Toxicity Following Lung Exposure To Graphite Nanoplates: A Member Of The Graphene-Based Nanomaterial Family, Jenny R. Roberts, Robert R. Mercer, Aleksandr B. Stefaniak, Mohindar S. Seehra, Usha K. Geddam, Ishrat S. Chaudhuri, Angelos Kyrlidis, Vamsi K. Kodali, Tina Sager, Allison Kenyon, Suzan A. Bilgesu, Tracy Eye, James F. Scabilloni, Stephen S. Leonard, Natalie R. Fix, Diane Schwegler-Berry, Breanne Y. Farris, Michael G. Wolfarth, Dale W. Porter, Vincent Castranova, Aaron Erdely

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Graphene, a monolayer of carbon, is an engineered nanomaterial (ENM) with physical and chemical properties that may offer application advantages over other carbonaceous ENMs, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT). The goal of this study was to comparatively assess pulmonary and systemic toxicity of graphite nanoplates, a member of the graphene-based nanomaterial family, with respect to nanoplate size.

Methods: Three sizes of graphite nanoplates [20 μm lateral (Gr20), 5 μm lateral (Gr5), and <2 >μm lateral (Gr1)] ranging from 8–25 nm in thickness were characterized for difference in surface area, structure,, zeta potential, and agglomeration in dispersion medium, the vehicle for …

Association Of Alanine Aminotransferase And Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis—Nhanes 2009–2012, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Objective. Alanine Aminotransferase is an enzyme associated with not only liver diseases, liver conditions, and metabolic syndrome, but also inflammation. Periodontitis is associated with increased cytokines and other markers of inflammation. The purpose of this study is to determine if an independent association between Alanine Aminotransferase and periodontitis exists. Methods. Data from the 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Surveys (NHANES) were combined. Data concerning periodontitis and Alanine Aminotransferase were extracted and analyzed with Rao Scott Chi-square and logistic regressions. Serum Alanine Aminotransferase was dichotomized at 40 units/liter, and periodontitis was dichotomized to the presence or absence of periodontitis. …

Smoking And Heberden Nodes: Analysis Of Data From The Osteoarthritis Initiative, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Purpose. Dental hygienists, dentists, and other workforce providers who depend upon their hands for employment are acutely aware of the need to protect their hands to ensure a successful career. Recent research has suggested that smoking may be protective of hand osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between smoking and Heberden’s nodes. Methods. Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative were used in a cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of self-reported current smoking/never smoking and the presence/absence of Heberden’s nodes, the hard enlargements of the joints nearest the fingertips (distal interphalangeal joints). Analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square associations …

Effect Of Leaf Surface Chemical Properties On Efficacy Of Sanitizer For Rotavirus Inactivation, Miyu Fuzawa, Kang-Mo Ku, Sindy Paola Palma-Salgado, Kenya Nagasaka, Hao Feng, John A. Juvik, Daisuke Sano, Joanna L. Shisler, Thanh H. Nguyen, E. G. Dudley

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The use of sanitizers is essential for produce safety. However, little is known about how sanitizer efficacy varies with respect to the chemical surface properties of produce. To answer this question, the disinfection efficacies of an oxidant-based sanitizer and a new surfactant-based sanitizer for porcine rotavirus (PRV) strain OSU were examined. PRV was attached to the leaf surfaces of two kale cultivars with high epicuticular wax contents and one cultivar of endive with a low epicuticular wax content and then treated with each sanitizer. The efficacy of the oxidant-based sanitizer correlated with leaf wax content as evidenced by the 1-log10 …

The Permian Period, John J. Renton, Thomas Repine

Readings and Notes

The Permian Period was a time of great crisis in Earth's history. The Permian saw the final closure of the Iapetus Ocean that had formed following the breakup of the super­ continent of Rodinia in the late pre-Cambrian; the closure resulting in the formation of another super-continent, Pangea. It was during the Permian that two of Earth's major mountain chains, the Appalachians and the Urals, were created. The period was one of climatic extremes. By the end of the Permian, Earth had not only experienced its most widespread glaciation but also the formation of deserts the likes of which had …

The Cambrian Period, John J. Renton, Thomas Repine

Readings and Notes

The Cambrian Period extends from 570 million years ago to 505 million years ago. Notwithstanding the discovery of the Ediacara fauna, the Cambrian Period of the Paleozoic Era has historically been taken as the beginning of historical time based on the first appearance of abundant fossil remains. It is interesting to note, however, that where first described, the lower Cambrian was not very fossiliferous.

The Geology Of West Virginia, John J. Renton, Thomas Repine

Readings and Notes

This is not meant to be a geology textbook but rather a discussion that will help you understand what you see around you every day or if you take a trip around the State. For example, you're on your way to work or to class or you are going shopping. Most likely, you're driving down a wide valley surrounded by hills. What do the hills look like? Why does the topography change as you go from one part of the State to another? In my opinion, of all the states that make up Appalachia, West Virginia is the most interesting …

The Cenozoic Era, John J. Renton, Thomas Repine

Readings and Notes

It has been said that the modem world unfolded during the Cenozoic Era. It is true that every feature of the modem landscape was formed during the Cenozoic Era. The Alps and the Himalaya have literally risen from the ocean floor. The Rocky mountains have been formed, worn away and re-uplifted to their present heights. The Appalachian Mountains that had formed at the close of the Paleozoic and worn away by the end of the Triassic, were uplifted and sculpted into their present form during the Cenozoic. All the other mountains of the world were also elevated and sculpted to …

A Geology Field Trip, John J. Renton, Thomas Repine

Readings and Notes

oduction to Field Trip I had several objectives in mind when I prepared this field trip. I want to develop in you an interest, an understanding, and an appreciation of geology of the region. I want to show you differences between three of the basic physiographic provinces within Appalachia, the Low Plateau, the High Plateau, and the Appalachian Mountain Section of the Valley and Ridge Province. I also want to show you the role that the kinds and structures of the underlying rocks plays in the formation of the topography of a region in order to have you better understand …

The Renewable Fuel Standard’S Effect On Corn Belt Income And Unemployment, Ryan M. Yonk, Landon Stevens, Arthur R. Wardle, Joshua C. Hall

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

No abstract provided.

Serotonergic Modulation Differentially Targets Distinct Network Elements Within The Antennal Lobe Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Tyler R. Sizemore, Andrew M. Dacks

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Neuromodulation confers flexibility to anatomically-restricted neural networks so that animals are able to properly respond to complex internal and external demands. However, determining the mechanisms underlying neuromodulation is challenging without knowledge of the functional class and spatial organization of neurons that express individual neuromodulatory receptors. Here, we describe the number and functional identities of neurons in the antennal lobe of Drosophila melanogaster that express each of the receptors for one such neuromodulator, serotonin (5-HT). Although 5-HT enhances odor-evoked responses of antennal lobe projection neurons (PNs) and local interneurons (LNs), the receptor basis for this enhancement is unknown. We used endogenous …

2016 Symposium Brochure

Programs

No abstract provided.

Reconstituting The Right To Education, Joshua Weishart

Law Faculty Scholarship

Confronting persistent and widening inequality in educational opportunity, advocates have regarded the right to education as a linchpin for reform. In the forty years since the Supreme Court relegated that right to the domain of state constitutional law, its power has surged and faded in litigation challenging state school finance systems. Like so many of the students it is meant to protect, however, the right to education has generally underachieved, in part because those wielding it have not always appreciated its distinctive forms and function.

Deconstructed, the right to education held by children has been formulated doctrinally as both a …

Cholesterol Diet-Associated Changes In The Hippocampus - A Prelude To Alzheimer's Disease?, Sylwia W. Brooks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

High serum cholesterol levels in midlife have been associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) later in life. This thesis investigates a possible mechanism linking dietary cholesterol, which cannot pass the blood brain barrier, and AD-like hippocampal neuropathology. The first study tested the hypothesis that a high cholesterol diet increases the flux of the cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) into the hippocampus. We found that a high-cholesterol diet increased levels of 27-OHC, a biologically active circulatory breakdown product of cholesterol, in hippocampal tissue. 27-OHC has been identified as an endogenous selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that affects estrogen …

Supplementing Art Therapy With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt) And Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Dbt) During Treatment Of Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Pilot Study, Rachel Cecil

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A qualitative research study presents a thorough examination of one therapist's methods of supplementing art therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) during the treatment of children impaired by a variety of anxiety disorders---i.e. generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD). A review of the existing literature was used to inform the current study. The researcher created an exploratory case study, through the utilization of a pilot study, to gain a better understanding of the topic from an expert in these therapeutic fields. Through the gathering of data and analysis, the …

A Case Of The Mundanes, Nathan Ditzler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written thesis is the supporting documentation for A Case of the Mundanes, my Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition. The exhibition seeks to give a visual presence to the seemingly trivial and overlooked moments of everyday life. It contains six individual sculptures made of handmade ceramic forms, fabricated mixed media elements, and modified found objects. The intention of A Case of the Mundanes is to combine nuances of humor to bring lightheartedness to the foibles and anxieties found in everyday life. The exhibition combines familiar and surreal representations to explore the way in which an artwork's meaning can shift, …

An Exploration Of The Relationships Between Chronic Pain, Inflammation, And Herbal Medicine, Termeh Feinberg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Inflammation is often a component of chronic pain, yet its potential role in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) remains inconclusive. FMS is a complex chronic pain condition affecting ~2% of the population; management is challenging and treatment options remain limited. Many herbs contain anti-inflammatory properties, and herbs indicated for analgesia and rheumatic conditions have traditionally been used in Appalachia. Despite the popularity of herbs in the US, determinants and patterns of herbal use with regard to pain management have not been well studied, particularly in Appalachia, where prevalence of chronic pain and related comorbid conditions is high and access to medical …

Diamond Bur Cutting Efficiency Of Dental Zirconia, Shelby Allison Alexander

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: To monitor the rate of diamond bur cutting through sintered yttria stabilized zirconia. Through this observation, we intend to determine which bur(s) exhibit the greatest cutting efficiency and if a decline exists over time.;Methods: Seven dental diamond burs were used in an air-turbine hand piece to cut sintered Yttria Stabilized Zirconia blocks (3Y-TZP) at a constant 0.9N force for five minutes. The distance traveled was measured by a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) and recorded per time by a data acquisition device. Time was divided into 100-second intervals for comparison. Individual effects of bur, time periods, and depth on …

Nebulized Heparin For Patients Under Mechanical Ventilation: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis, Gerie J. Glas, Ary Serpa Neto, Janneke Horn, Amalia Cochran, Barry Dixon, Elamin M. Elamin, Iris Farklas, Sharmila Dissanaike, Andrew C. Miller, Marcus J. Schultz

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Pulmonary coagulopathy is a characteristic feature of lung injury including ventilator-induced lung injury. The aim of this individual patient data meta-analysis is to assess the effects of nebulized anticoagulants on outcome of ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. A systematic search of PubMed (1966–2014), Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science was conducted to identify relevant publications. Studies evaluating nebulization of anticoagulants in ventilated patients were screened for inclusion, and corresponding authors of included studies were contacted to provide individual patient data. The primary endpoint was the number of ventilator-free days and alive at day 28. Secondary endpoints included hospital mortality, …

Detection Of Auditory Signals In Quiet And Noisy Backgrounds While Performing A Visuo-Spatial Task, Vishakha W. Rawool

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The ability to detect important auditory signals while performing visual tasks may be further compounded by background chatter. Thus, it is important to know how task performance may interact with background chatter to hinder signal detection. Aim: To examine any interactive effects of speech spectrum noise and task performance on the ability to detect signals. Settings and Design: The setting was a sound-treated booth. A repeated measures design was used. Materials and Methods: Auditory thresholds of 20 normal adults were determined at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz in the following conditions presented in a random order: (1) quiet with …

Ultrafiltration And Microarray For Detection Of Microbial Source Tracking Marker And Pathogen Genes In Riverine And Marine Systems, Xiang Li, Valerie J. Harwood, Bina Nayak, Jennifer L. Weidhaas, A. J. M. Stams

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Pathogen identification and microbial source tracking (MST) to identify sources of fecal pollution improve evaluation of water quality. They contribute to improved assessment of human health risks and remediation of pollution sources. An MST microarray was used to simultaneously detect genes for multiple pathogens and indicators of fecal pollution in freshwater, marine water, sewage-contaminated freshwater and marine water, and treated wastewater. Dead-end ultrafiltration (DEUF) was used to concentrate organisms from water samples, yielding a recovery efficiency of >95% for Escherichia coli and human polyomavirus. Whole-genome amplification (WGA) increased gene copies from ultrafiltered samples and increased the sensitivity of the microarray. …

Endocannabinoid Modulation Of Secretory And Inflammatory Causes Of Gastric Pathology, Molly S. Crowe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common analgesic drugs that also cause well-known, negative gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. The specific physiological mechanism(s) of NSAID-induced GI damage are unknown, and are likely due to multiple causes. The most studied components include: increased gastric acid secretions, inflammation of the gastric epithelium, and increased gastric motility. Currently, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) antacids are used by chronic NSAID users, with the expectation that decreasing gastric acid output will reduce gastric epithelial irritation. However, PPIs are associated with side effects like infection, gastric polyps, and dementia. Therefore, new gastroprotective treatments that prevent NSAID-induced gastropathy are needed. …

Distribution And Efficacy Of Chemotherapeutics In The Treatment Of Preclinical Brain Metastases Of Breast Cancer, Tori Terrell Hall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Brain metastases are a critical, life-threatening problem for women with advanced metastatic breast cancer. Approximately 80% of women with disseminated central lesions are unable to survive the first year after diagnosis. Despite the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, chemotherapeutics have limited penetration and distribution into brain metastases and are unable to induce cytotoxicity in the tumor. Limiting the development of new treatments for brain metastases of breast cancer, there are no commercially available in vitro models available that accurately model, and mimic the functionality of, the in vivo blood-tumor barrier (BTB). In an attempt to address the aforementioned problem, the …

Modulation Of Coronary Reactive Hyperemia Through Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase: Role Of Oxylipins And Ppargamma, Ahmad Mahmoud Hanif

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in increasingly more countries. Function and structural damage to the heart are likely consequences of ischemic insults and may even lead to death. The body's physiological response to ischemia is by increasing nourishment or perfusion to the deprived organ in an attempt to decrease the potential ischemia-induced damage and achieve faster recovery. This reaction to ischemia is termed reactive hyperemia (RH), and in the heart, it is coronary reactive hyperemia (CRH). Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are oxylipins derived from arachidonic acid (AA) and possess distinct cardiovascular benefits, …

Effects Of Palmitic Acid On Milk Production And Insulin Sensitivity In Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows, Alice Treffry Mathews

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This masters of science research evaluates the effects of palmitic acid (C16:0) supplementation on milk production and insulin sensitivity in mid-lactation dairy cows. The ability of saturated fatty acids (SFA) to enhance milk yield in dairy cows may be due to shifts in glucose utilization caused by reduced insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of palmitic acid (C16:0) on milk production and insulin sensitivity in cows. Twenty multiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows were enrolled in a study consisting of a 5 d covariate, 49 d treatment, and 14 d post-treatment period. All cows received a …